The Devadasi System in Assam

Origins, Practices and Historical Transformations

Abstract

Rooted in religious and cultural traditions, Devadasis, locally known as Nati were young virgin girls dedicated to deities through a formal ceremony held within temple premises symbolically “married” to the deity. They were forbidden from marrying human beings and were considered auspicious presences in rituals, never to experience the perceived misfortune of widowhood. Held in high regard, they played a central role in temple life through music, dance, and ritual service. The Devadasi system in Assam, once a sacred institution, underwent a long and complex process of decline, ultimately transforming these temple-dedicated women into objects of amusement and exploitation. The advent of British rule marked a major turning point for the Devadasi system in Assam. With the decline of royal patronage and growing criticism from Christian missionaries and the emerging educated Assamese middle class, the system began to
deteriorate and gradually disappeared.